Refrigeration apparatus



O. H. YOXSIMER REFRIGERATION. APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, .1942

Jan. 11, 1944.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wnfNEsses: ,0. 711%. c2 Ah zig INVENTOR Onuwo H-YOXSIMER.

BY A I ATTQREY Jan. 11, 1944.

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Sept. 11, 1942 2 Sheets$heet 2 Fac WITNESSES: INVENTOR .44 O L ND nnyoxsxmek.

Q 0 BY M7 r ATTORI(EYLO o. H. YOXSIMER 2,338,889

Patented Jan. 11, 1944.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 'REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Orland H. Yox simer, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsbur Pennsylvania gh, Pa., a corporation of Application September 11, 1942, Serial No. 458,045 Claims. (01. 62-89) My iii'vention relates to refrigeration apparatus slightly ventilated container which is set in the food-storage compartment. of the refrigerator.

Such a hydrator maintains a high humidity in itsinterior but is not readily accessible. The second and preferred type of hydrator is the suspended type, wherein the hydrator receptacle slides from beneath a cover on suitable rails. The suspended typ has the advantages of accessibility and is usually .positioned to provide for good air circulation about its exterior and, therefore, suflicientlyv low temperatures in its interior. However, in order to provide forease of sliding and to allow for variations and warpage of the hydrator receptacle, large clearances on the slides and, therefore, between the cover and the.re-'

ceptacle have been provided. This results in air circulation from the food-storage compartment into and out of thehydrator receptacle and a lowering of the humidity in the receptacle, so that vegetables and the like stored. in the hydrator receptacleare'dried out. Very slight circulation of such air is, however, desirable to prevent putrefaction and exchange of foododors within the receptacle when vegetables are stored therein.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a hydrator construction of the suspended type wherein th hydrator receptacle slides easily and wherein the cover seals the hydrator receptacle su-fiiciently to permit very little or no ventilation when the receptacle is in the closed position. v a

It is another. object. of my invention to pro vide a hydrator assembly of the suspended type wherein a high humidity is maintained. 7

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will. be apparent from thefollowing description and claims taken in accordance with the accompanying drawingsuforming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front view ofa refrigerator cabinet and hydrator assembly, illustrating my invention;

11-11 of Fig. 3; I

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view taken on line IIL-III of Fig. 2; and

Figs. ,4 and 5 are details of the slide rails and pan member. v g

Referring specifically -'to the drawings for a detailed description of the invention, numeral II designates a refrigerator cabinet having an outer shell I2 and an innershell I3 defining a foodstorage compartment I4 provided with an access opening I5 and a door I6 for closing the access opening I5. Heat insulation I1 is provided be tween the shells I3 and I4 and an evaporator or cooling element I8 is disposed in the food-storage compartment for cooling and effecting a circulation of the air therein.

A hydrator assembly, indicated at I9. is preferably disposed'in the bottom of the food-storage compartment I4. A pan member is spaced from the wall of the food-storage compartment I4 at 2I, 22, and 23, to provide circulation of refrigeratedair around all sides of the receptaclefso that the interior is maintained at a low temperature by conduction of heat through the walls of the assembly to said circulatingair. A cover 24, preferably formed of plate glass, is spaced from the back of the food compartment I4 and from the door [6 and provides a closure for the pan member 20. The pan member 2;: and cover 24 form a closed container, commonly known as a hydrator, which is suitable for storing fresh vegetables and the lik out of contact with the dry air of the food-storage comtial quantities of air betweenthe flange 25 and the cover is prevented. The rails 25 are each provided with a lower flang 21 which slidably supports the pan member 20.

In accordance with myinvention. the upper flange 26 is substantially horizontal and the lower flang 2'! is inclined at an angle to the horizon Fig. 2 is a partial. side elevation taken on line/ tal, approaching th upper flange 26 adjacent the rear of the food-storage compartment 14, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. A flange: 23 is provided on each side of the pan member 20 to slide on the lower flanges 2'! of rails 25. flanges. 28 on the pan member are provided with humps or protuberances 29 adjacent the front thereof. When the pan member 20 is in its closed position beneath the cover 24, the rear of the pan is substantially closed by the cover because it is lifted by the inclined flanges 2'! on the rails 25, and the front of, the pan is substantially closed by the cover 24 because the front is lifted by the coaction of the protubcrances 29 with the The lower flanges 21 of the rails 25. Very little air circulation between the food-storage compartment l4 and the interior of the pan is, there fore, permitted. However, the pan member slides easily on the rails in spite of warpage of the flanges 28 on the pan member 20, because as soon as the pan member is pulled forward, the protuberances disengage the rails 25 and the clearance between the rear of the flanges 28 on the pan member and the upper flanges 2B of rails 25 progressively increases.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have provided a suspended hydrator of improved design which is easily slidable to opened and closed positions, but which is sealed as tightly as desired when in the closed position. If it is desired to use the hydrator for other purposes than storing vegetables, for example, for storing bread, the clearances when the receptacle is closed may be reduced so that substantially no air from the food-storage compartment l4 enters the interior of the pan member 20.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A hydrator assembly for disposition in the food-storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, said food-storage compartment having an access opening therein, said hydrator assembly comprising a pair of spaced horizontal rails, a substantially imperforate hydrator cover, a hydrator receptacle movable on said rails to a closed position beneath said cover and to an open position from beneath said cover by withdrawing said receptacle through said access opening, and means providing clearance between said hydrator receptacle and said cover while the hydrator receptacle is being moved on said rails and for substantially reducing the clearance when the hydrator is in the closed position.

2. A hydrator assembly for disposition in the food-storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, said food-storage compartment having an access opening therein, said hydrator assembly comprising a pair of spaced horizontal rails. a substantially imperforate hydrator cover sup ported on said rails, a hydrator receptacle movable on said rails to a closed position beneath said cover and to an open position from beneath the cover by withdrawing said receptacle through said access opening, and means providing clearance between said hydrator receptacle and said cover While the hydrator receptacle is being moved on said rails and for substantially reducing the clearance when the hydrator is in the closed position.

3. A hydrator assembly for disposition in the food-storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, said food-storage compartment having an access opening therein, said hydrator assembly comprising a pair of spaced horizontal rails, a substantially imperforate hydrator cover supported on said rails, a hydrator receptacle movable on said rails to a closed position beneath said cover and to an open position from beneath the cover by withdrawing said receptacle through said access opening, and means providing clearance between said hydrator receptacle and said cover while the hydrator receptacle is being moved on said rails and for substantially reducing the clearance when the hydrator is in the closed position, said means comprising a substantially horizontal support on each slide rail for said hydrator cover, and a hydrator receptaclesupporting track on each slide rail disposed below and inclined downwardly with respect to said hydrator cover supports, said inclination being toward the access opening.

4. A hydrator assembly for disposition in the food-storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, said food-storage compartment having an access opening therein. said hydrator assembly comprising a pair of spaced horizontal rails, a substantially imperforate hydrator cover supported on said rails, a hydrator receptacle movable on said rails to a closed position beneath said cover and to an open position from beneath the cover by withdrawing said receptacle through said access opening, and means providing substantial clearance between said hydrator receptacle and said cover while the hydrator receptacle is being moved on said rails and for substantially reducing the clearance when the hydrator is in the closed position, said means comprising a substantially horizontal support on each slide rail for said hydrator cover, and a hydrator receptacle-supporting track on each slide rail disposed below and inclined downwardly with respect to said hydrator cover supports, said inclination being toward the access opening, and means for raising the front end of the hydrator receptacle when moved substantially to its closed position.

5. A hydrator assembly for disposition in the food-storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, said food-storage compartment having an access opening therein, said hydrator assembly comprising a pair of spaced horizontal rails, a substantially imperforate hydrator cover supported on said rails, aliyglratorreceptaclegnovable on said rails toa closed position beneath said cover and to an open position from beneath the cover by withdrawing said receptacle through said access opening, said hydrator receptacle having an opening in its top, and means providing substantial clearance between said hydrator receptacle and said cover while the hydrator receptacle is being moved on said rails and for substantially reducing the clearance when the hydrator is in the closed position, said means com prising a substantially horizontal support on each slide rail for said hydrator cover and providing a close fit therewith, a hydrator receptacle-supporting track on each slide rail disposed below and inclined downwardly in a direction toward said access opening with respect to said hydrator cover supports, a substantially horizontal flange at the sides of said hydrator receptacle opening, said flanges being adapted to slide on said track and be positioned close to said cover at the rear thereof when the hydrator receptacle is in the closed position, and means for raising the front of the hydrator receptacle when in its closed position to position the remainder of said flanges close to said covers.

6. A hydrator assembly for disposition in the food-storage compartment of a refrigerator cabinet, said food-storage compartment having an access opening therein, said hydrator assembly comprising supporting means on opposite vertical walls of said food-storage compartment, a substantially imperforate hydrator cover, a hydrator receptacle movable on said supporting means to a closed position beneath said coverand to an open position from beneath said cover by withdrawing said receptacle through said access opening, and means providing clearance be tween said hydrator receptacle and said cover while the hydrator receptacle is being moved on said supporting means and for substantialy reducing the clearance when the hydrator is in the closed position.

7. The combination of an open topped substantially imperforate receptacle, a substantially imperforate cover for said receptacle, means for slidably supporting said receptacle between a closed position in which the receptacle is disposed beneath said cover and an open position in which said receptacle is Withdrawn from beneath said cover, and means operable upon movement of said receptacle to said closed position for moving the same upwardly against said cover to minimize leakage into or out of said receptacle.

8. In a food-storage compartment of a refrigerator, said compartment having an access opening, the combination of a substantially rectangular receptacle, a cover for said receptacle, means for supporting said cover in a substantially horizontalposition in said compartment, said receptacle having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, an outwardly turned flange on each of said side walls, and a downwardly-extending protuberance on each of said flanges adjacent the front end thereof, substantially straight slide rails in said compartment fomengaging said flangesto support said receptacle immediately below said cover, said slide rails being inclined downwardly in a direction toward said access opening to engage the rear portions of said flanges and said protuberances when the receptacle is in position underneath said cover.

9. In a food-storage compartment for a refrigerator, said compartment having an access opening, the combination of a substantially rectangular imperforate receptacle formed of sheet metal, an imperforate cover for said receptacle, means for supporting" said cover in a substantially horizontal position in said compartment, said receptacle having a front wall, a rear wall, two side walls, and an outwardly turned flange on the upper edge of each of said sidewalls, said outwardly turned flanges each having a depression formed therein adjacent the front ends thereof, the flanges with the exception of said depressions being straight, substantially straight slide rails in said compartment for engaging said flanges to support said receptacle immediately below said cover, said slide rails being inclined downwardly in a direction toward said access opening to engage only the rear portions of said flanges and said depressions when the receptacle is in position underneath said cover.

10. In a food-storage compartment of a refrigerator, said compartment having an access opening, a cover supported in substantially horizontal position in said compartment, a substantially rectangulanopen-topped receptacle;positioned below said cover and cooperating therewith to form a closed container, said receptacle having a front wall, a rear wall, and two side walls, the combination of means for slidably supporting said receptacle in said position comprising an outwardlyturned flange on the upper edge of each of said side walls, the lowermort surface of the front portion of each of said flanges being at a lower elevation than the lowermost surface of the rear portion thereof, and substantially straight slide rails engaging said lowermost surfaces of said flanges to slidably support said receptacle in said position, said slide railsbein'g inclined downwardly in a direction toward said access opening.

ORLAND H. YOXSIMER. 

